Trevor Cooney: Meet the OrangeFreshman guard Trevor Cooney graduated as Sanford (Del.) High School's all-time scoring leader with 1,826 points. He'll be a 3-point specialist off the bench this season for the Syracuse University basketball team.

Jim Boeheim has said on more than one occasion that this season's Syracuse Orange men's basketball team is the deepest he's had in quite a few years.

Fellow freshman Trevor Cooney entered the game with 9:34 left in the first half. It took him exactly 20 seconds to take and make his first 3-point shot. “To come in, off the bench and hit your first shot of your career is pretty big,” Cooney said. “It felt good.” Cooney played six minutes and scored seven points. In addition to the wing 3-pointer, he sank another shot from the wing, then drove the lane and converted a runner. When asked whether he’s considered red-shirting this season, the sharp-shooting guard said, “Not yet, no. Coach and I, if that’s an option, we’ll sit down and talk about it. And whatever’s best for me and the team, we’ll do.”

If Cooney does redshirt, and incoming recruits Dajuan (Save the capital J for my Jams) Coleman and Jerami Grant enter the mix right away, that is a hell of a 2012 class…well, for as long as they all stay.

If Boeheim ends up playing Cooney this year, I am sure he will be value added…at times. There may be injuries that could result in more playing time for him. There could be games against teams especially susceptible to the 3-ball. There could be situations where we find ourselves down three with ten seconds left. But those games happen every year, and it would be better if Cooney’s talents could be put to use during those, as well as the other 20 in which he might not see action if he plays this season.

Trevor Cooney will get the most out of his collegiate career if he redshirts. Syracuse will get the most out Cooney if he redshirts. And I’m confident that it could be explained to future recruits who may be worried about having to sit that this was a rare situation.